48 hours in Glasgow

Check into your hotel

Start your trip by checking into your hotel and dropping off your bags. Glasgow is full of hotels to suit every budget, so you’re guaranteed to find something you love. For something central, try voco Grand Central or The Address Collective. If you'd prefer a serviced apartment, Fraser Suites and Native Glasgow offer an idyllic home away from home.

Check out our guide to where to stay to help you plan.

Head out for some dinner

Glasgow is home to a variety of restaurants where you can enjoy locally sourced Scottish produce. Check out Gamba or Crabshakk for some delicious seafood. Margo and Mharsanta pride themselves on their seasonal menus.

Visit our Scottish restaurants page for more inspiration.

Grab some breakfast

What better way to start your first day in Glasgow than with something delicious to eat? From vegan dishes at Ocho to full Scottish breakfasts and brunches at Bramble or The Brunch Club, you'll be spoilt for choice.

Check out our guide to some of the best brunch spots in the city.

Go on a bus tour

It's always good to get your bearings when visiting a new city, and one of the best ways is by going on a bus tour. City Sightseeing Glasgow offer 2 different tours of the city. The red route covers the west and the centre of the city, and the yellow route covers the east and south. Highlights include Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Pollok Park, and the Glasgow Science Centre.

Sit back and relax while you soak up some of the history that Glasgow has to offer. Visit City Sightseeing to book your tickets.

Alternatively, if walking or cycling tours are more your thing, there are plenty of options to help you discover the city. Visit our tours in Glasgow page for more information.

Take a trip west on the clockwork orange

No trip to Glasgow is complete without a trip on the Glasgow Subway. Affectionately known as the clockwork orange, it opened in 1896, making it the third-oldest subway in the world. Get off at Kelvinhall station, where you'll begin your afternoon in the west end. Visit Glasgow Subway to view their timetable.

Soak up some culture at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Start off at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which is free to visit. The museum has 200 curated galleries featuring over 8,000 items from across the world. Make sure to check out their organ recitals in the Central Hall which happen every day at 1pm (3pm on Sundays).

Visit Glasgow Life for more information.

Visit the University of Glasgow

Just behind Kelvingrove Museum you'll find the University of Glasgow. Founded in 1451, it's the fourth oldest university in the UK. It's also been used as the filming location for many films and TV shows including Outlander, Cloud Atlas, and Outlaw King.

Make sure to check out The Cloisters, quadrangles, and the University Tower during your visit. Visit the University of Glasgow for more information and to book a guided tour.

Eat dinner under the stars

After all that sightseeing, it's time for some dinner. Head over to Ashton Lane, a cobbled backstreet lane underneath a canopy of fairy lights. Here you'll find a variety of bars and restaurants, including Ubiquitous Chip and Brel, as well as a boutique cinema.

Check out some live music

Glasgow is the UK's first UNESCO City of Music, so it's a great place to watch some live acts. Check out some of the city's smaller venues, such as King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Saint Luke's, or The Glad Café. Who knows, you might just witness the next big thing!

There's also plenty of spaces to enjoy some traditional Scottish music. Read our guide to bars with free live music for some inspiration.

Check out our what’s on section to find out what other events are happening in Glasgow.

Visit the birthplace of Glasgow

In the city's east end, you'll find Glasgow Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland. It's said to be the birthplace of St Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow, and marks the city's birthplace. Step inside to admire the architecture and see some of the finest stained glass in the whole of the UK. Visit Glasgow Cathedral to learn more about the history and to book a tour.

Walk with the dead

Just behind the cathedral, you'll find the Glasgow Necropolis, a 37-acre Victorian cemetery. This might seem like an odd sightseeing activity, but with its interesting history and beautiful city views, it's definitely one not to miss. Movie buffs might also recognise the location as it stood in as Gotham City in the 2021 blockbuster The Batman.

You can visit by yourself or take a guided tour to learn more about the history and the stories of the people buried there. Visit the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis to book.

Follow the City Centre Mural Trail

After a morning of learning about Glasgow's past, it's time for an afternoon of enjoying some modern culture. The mural trail is a collection of artworks designed to add a splash of colour to the streets and lanes of Glasgow. Visit our mural trail guide to learn about each piece, or book yourself onto a guided tour. Visit Walking Tours in Glasgow for tour details.

For more information to help you plan your perfect itinerary, check out our Glasgow for first-time visitors guide.